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Book Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games #1)

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian Science Fiction

First Publication: 2008

Language:  English

Major Characters: Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark, Cato, Primrose Everdeen, Gale Hawthorne, Effie Trinket, Haymitch Abernathy, Cinna, President Coriolanus Snow, Rue, Flavius, Lavinia, Marvel, Glimmer, Clove, Foxface, Thresh, Greasy Sae, Madge Undersee, Caesar Flickerman, Claudius Templesmith, Octavia, Portia

Theme: Division and Control; Love, Loyalty, and Compassion; Societal Inequality; Appearances, Hypocrisy

Setting: Fictional District 12, Panem; Capitol, Panem(United States)

Narrator: First person, Katniss’s perspective

Book Summary: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games #1)

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and once girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weight survival against humanity and life against love.

The Hunger Games is a 2008 dystopian novel by the American writer Suzanne Collins. It is written in the voice of 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives in the future, post-apocalyptic nation of Panem in North America.

The Capitol, a highly advanced metropolis, exercises political control over the rest of the nation. The Hunger Games is an annual event in which one boy and one girl aged 12–18 from each of the twelve districts surrounding the Capitol are selected by lottery to compete in a televised battle to the death.

“You don’t forget the face of the person who was your last hope.”

Written along the lines of Stephen King’s The Long Walk or George Orwell’s 1984 , The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins still feels very original and sucked me in completely with its modern day Survivor-esque retelling. The Hunger Games is the ultimate in reality TV, suspense, scripted realism, romance and survival that you should not miss.

Set in a post apocalyptic future (although we frustratingly never learn the why’s, how’s or even when of this future.), this new communist-type America known as Panem has been divided into a Capital and its 12 districts. We follow 16 year old Katniss as she struggles to keep her starving family alive, hunting and gathering with her best friend Gale. Unbeknownst to her these are valuable skills as the annual hunger games are about to begin.

“I am not pretty. I am not beautiful. I am as radiant as the sun.”

Each year these games require two children from each district who are chosen based on a lottery system for compulsory participation. These televised games are then broadcast throughout Panem as the 24 contestants fight each other to the death, leaving just one victor at its violent conclusion. When Katniss’s younger sister is chosen as the female contestant from their district Katniss volunteers to take her place. Then together with Peeta the other lottery winner they travel to the Capital and begin preparations for the opening ceremonies and ultimately their death in The Hunger Games.

“Destroying things is much easier than making them.”

I have to admit the first part of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins dragged for me, as Katniss is groomed, clothed, and schooled by her entourage within the capital. However, by the point games begin in the story, you have become attached to several key characters and its then that you realize things can’t end well as there will be only one winner.

Over a period of about 2 weeks and against overwhelming odds we watch 24 victims dwindle as they struggle to survive. Simultaneously avoiding and hunting each other they form alliances, face hunger and mind numbing thirst, mutant animal attacks, friendship, love and ultimately a distrust of everyone as Big Brother raises the stakes to keep the audience interested.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is an exciting book that will keep you up late into the night and resonate with you long after you’ve finished.

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The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - review

In a place once known as North America, now known as Panem, is a very rich City surrounded by twelve Districts. Every year because this very rich City, known as The Capitol, is so rich and likes to think they control all the Districts - which they do - there is something known as The Hunger Games! This is where two children, one boy and one girl from each district from the ages of twelve to eighteen, have to leave their families and compete in The Hunger Games , a live event that is aired on TV's all over Panem. When Katniss Everdeen, aged sixteen from District 12, has to volunteer to take the place of her twelve-year-old sister Prim after Prim's name is called forth to become the 23rd member to compete in The 74th Hunger Games, she promises to Prim that she will win!

Katniss doesn't believe she's coming out alive - but she's not going down without a fight.

Because District 12 is so poor, Katniss has been close to death many times from starvation but she's made it through it. But this is a different kind of close to death; this Katniss doesn't know if she can survive.

She doesn't want to hurt, or kill anyone but when it comes down to it Katniss' instinct is to survive. But when she starts to have confusing feelings about the boy from her district who is also her fellow contender, things get worse, and then she teams up with the girl from District 11 and only one person can survive. But who will it be? Will her feelings get the better of her? Will she let someone else win so they don't have to die? If Katniss is going to win she's going to have to be brutal. She's going to have to kill!

This is the second time I have read The Hunger Games! And since reading it the first time round I've wanted to read it again! But I just have so many books I haven't read and it's hard to balance it right but finally I've decided to read them again! The Hunger Games was DEFINITELY the best series I read last year! I would really suggest reading it if you haven't yet! It's really different from lots of the other stuff I read. And it's a good book to take you somewhere else; I could really get into The Hunger Game and I've been able to get into it reading it the second time round. Although it is more difficult reading it the second time round because I have now seen the film and I imagined it completely differently to how they did it in the film - and I liked my version better. I'm going straight onto the next one, Catching Fire, as you can't resist reading them all as quickly as possible as soon as you've started!

The book was 100% better than the film. A good book to sit down with on a horrible rain day! It makes you happy to be alive and happy to know that you are not going to be entered in a competition where you are to fight to your death every year. But it's a great story! And a great idea for a story. It's one of the books I wish I had written myself! One of my favourite series of book ever! I highly suggest reading it, and hope Suzanne Collins goes on to write more teen fiction as The Hunger Games was so good! I would read anything by her without batting an eyelid! One of the best authors out there at the moment in my opinion! Good job Suzanne Collins!

I would rate it ten million stars... If I could but I can't, so I will rate a very well earned five stars!

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Book Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The hunger games by suzanne collins is the first book in the hunger games trilogy. the gripping plot makes it the perfect book to keep you occupied on a long haul flight. here’s my book review of the hunger games by suzanne collins., disclaimer: some of the links below are affiliate links, which means if you click on the link and make a purchase, i’ll get a small commission at no extra cost to you. please note that all sales are processed by the linked website, not rays of adventure, so you’ll be subject to their privacy policy., overview of the hunger games by suzanne collins.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is the first book of three in The Hunger Games trilogy. It’s set in a future world, where years of conflict have led to the new country of Panem. It’s controlled by the Capitol, and has 12 Districts which are responsible for producing resources for the Capitol. The brutal, totalitarian rule of the Capitol means the people in the Districts live difficult lives, struggling to feed their families. It’s part of the Capitol punishing the Districts for trying to revolt a few years ago. Part of this punishment is the annual Hunger Games, where teenagers from each District are chosen to enter an arena and fight to the death for TV entertainment.

Katniss Everdeen lives in District 12, and ends up being the chosen tribute to represent her District in the Hunger Games. She’s joined by a boy called Peeta, who is also from District 12. They travel to the Capitol for their training, where they’re given elaborate costumes by designers and appear on TV interviews before they enter the arena.

The Hunger Games begins, and all the tributes must hide or fight, to try to be the last one alive. Katniss uses her archery skills, learned from hunting for food for her family, and manages to stay alive at first. But there’s a twist – Peeta is in love with Katniss, but in the game they are meant to kill each other. And Katniss also has a close friend from home, called Gale, who she’s unsure about her feelings for. It’s a complicated mix of teenage emotion, made even more complicated by the fact that Katniss and Peeta are on live TV and meant to kill each other. And so the Hunger Games begins…

If you’d like to buy this book, click on this link or the picture below to buy it from Amazon (affiliate).

What I like about this book

I found The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins really gripping. The action starts near the beginning of the book – it doesn’t take long at all for Katniss to learn she’s in the Hunger Games. The level of suspense is really good throughout the book, and I feel like it moves at a good pace.

The teenage love triangle is interesting as well. Both Peeta and Gale are likeable characters but for very different reasons, so you can understand why Katniss finds it confusing. It almost reminded me of the love triangle in the Twlight books, where Bella is torn between Edward and Jacob. But I found Peeta and Gale better male characters, with better reasons for choosing each one.

There are plenty of other interesting characters in the books as well. There’s Haymitch, an old Hunger Games victor, who I was never sure if I liked or not. But that just made him more interesting. The fashion designers from the Capitol are also good. I loved the descriptions in the book of the elaborate costumes they produced.

The whole idea behind the country of Panem was also good. It made me think about whether it was a commentary on our world now, with so many conflicts and so much destruction of the world. It actually felt a feasible idea that a totalitarian country like Panem could be the result of the world’s conflicts.

What I wasn’t so sure about

I really enjoyed this book, so there’s not much to dislike. I think the main thing was that I sometimes found Katniss a bit unlikeable. At times, she seemed strong and powerful. But occasionally, she came across selfish, and like she didn’t care about the emotions of other people like Peeta and Gale. I think the author was trying to go for the ‘imperfect heroine’ idea, which I like in a way. But maybe there were just a few too many imperfections. Katniss was good at archery and loved her sister, but apart from that, I couldn’t see too many positive character traits. I think just a few more things to like about Katniss would have made this book even better.

Would I recommend The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins?

My book review of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is definitely positive, so I would definitely recommend this book. It’s gripping and full of suspense, so it’s the perfect book to keep you occupied on a long haul flight. I found I could read it for hours at a time without getting bored. It’s not just a teenage book either. Although the main characters are teenagers, there’s plenty of interest for anyone of any age. It’s a really good book and I look forward to reading the second and third in the series. Make sure you check out my reviews of the second book and third book.

If you like the sound of this book,  buy yourself a copy for the weekend here! (affiliate)

If this book has inspired you to want to get on a long haul flight to start reading this book, it’s time to start planning your next trip the uk is a beautiful place to travel, with beautiful scenery in  wales  and  scotland . or you could visit some of the amazing cities in europe, such as  prague ,  berlin  or  vienna . the usa is full of amazing places as well, like the  florida keys ,  san francisco  and the  olympic mountains . start planning your travels and live life with no regrets.

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17 Sep The Hunger Games – Reviewed by Emma Ciliberti

Book review: the hunger games by suzanne collins.

The Hunger Games, written by Suzanne Collins, is an action-packed book that depicts the tribulations teenagers face. The narrative follows the experiences of Katniss Everdeen, a sixteen-year-old who finds herself in dire circumstances.

 Katniss is required to attend the Hunger Games alongside Peeta Mellark. Katniss did not have an established relationship with Peeta before the games, which made matters worse. The Capitol controls the summertime Hunger Games, which consists of 24 contestants entering and 1 contestant exiting. In order to win the games, you must outlast everyone else in the woods, becoming the sole survivor. Because she must leave her mother and sister Prim at home, Katniss must deal with the harsh reality that they may not be able to live without her. Additionally, Katniss believes she won’t prevail because she’s only sixteen and hasn’t had any training. However, there are eighteen-year-olds who have trained their entire lives participating. During the games, Katniss realizes she cannot stab Peeta in the back by killing him; then, she discovers that maybe she would not have to.

 I recommend reading The Hunger Games due to its inspiring heroine who changes the fate of Panem for the rest of eternity. Overall, The Hunger Games features amazing story twists and explores a wide range of emotions. If you enjoyed the first book, be sure to inquire about the sequel, Catching Fire.   

~Emma Ciliberti

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The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games: Book 1)

I came to the Hunger Games series late in its popularity. Way late. Less than a month's time to the release of the highly anticipated film adaptation (an adaptation written in part by Suzanne Collins herself, one of the credited writers of the script) and I've known about the series less than a year, and having only read the series a few months prior to this review.

My own lack of trendiness aside, the books have seen a meteoric surge in popularity since the publication of this first volume in 2008. It was nothing short of an instant hit from almost the first moment. Set in a dystopian future where North America has been split into 12 districts by an evil government known only as The Capitol after a devastating war. The 12 districts are punished by being kept desperately poor – and once a year they must each select one boy and one girl by lottery to do battle in a grand gladiatorial arena known as the Hunger Games. These twenty-four children, ranging in age from twelve to eighteen, must fight to the death, and there can be only one winner. When Katniss Everdeen’s twelve-year-old sister’s name is drawn for the Hunger Games, Katniss volunteers to take her place, and is thus drawn into a horrifying and desperate fight for survival against the odds, the elements, and her fellow, bloodthirsty competitors.

The first thing that struck me about the book, beyond the smart, polished prose and the immediately compelling protagonist Katniss, was the depth of insight into human life which Collins so deftly exhibits. Almost from the first page, as with Rowling's Potter novels, the reader is struck with a sense that here is something special—that often ineffable quality which so many writers lust to possess but which is rarely achieved, that this book in some strange way resonates with the deepest realities of human existence, or at least of human existence at this time in history. Critics of pop culture will sneer (when will they not?) that the popularity of the books is due to various factors like declining education or “mass obsession,” but there really is something here beyond the surface, illusive and difficult to articulate yet nevertheless no less present for all that.

Katniss' journey is many things, tapping into the archetypal mythical journey outlined by Joseph Campbell, a genuine pyschological depth of the toll of participation in such a games. Reflection on ethical and moral questions regarding murder and self-defense, on the impact of such a Games in a social and communal pyschology. It is hard, coming away from the books, to shake the feeling that these Games are a ritual bloodletting with quasi-religious undertones, much like the Roman gladiatorial arena where the ritual murder of Remus by Romulus (which allowed for the building of Rome on the atonement of his blood) is recapitulated in the death of each gladiator. That somehow the Games are an attempt to cover the guilty conscience of the hedonistic Capitol by the atonement of blood while the rest of Panem dwells in deep poverty (the work of Rene Girard on scapegoating is vital reading here).

The book is also fundamentally about the transformation of Katniss herself into a fully-formed human being by way of trial by fire. Mythological and historical references abound. The “trial by arena battle” is as old as the sands of the sea, of course, and the name of this civilization, Panem, comes from the old Latin expression panem et circuses, that is, “bread and circuses,” an expression used by ancient writers to illustrate the fixation of the Roman citizens on food (hedonistic gluttony) and circuses, or entertainment. Such a name is perfectly suited for this dystopian future eerily like our own present. We in the West are the Capitol, a comparison made more disquieting by the intentional allusion back to Huxley's Brave New World, one of the first dystopians in which the people were enslaved, not to a totalitarian state, but to their own pleasures, caught in a vast corporatocracy even though they were not even aware of its presence. The best science fiction is not about the future, but about revealing the present, and in this The Hunger Games matches the definition perfectly.

Collins is a fine writer worthy of her craft, and the book is compelling all the way through. I don't usually stay up late reading novels, but this time I did. It is a massive whirlwind of enjoyment and insight. It does not pull its punches, and for this reason The Hunger Games is also not free of controversy. Some religious groups have denounced the books as unacceptable for its presentation of violence and for the ever-present theme of looming death. Such readings are in fact misreadings, these groups having missed the obvious point of the series, which is that violence, while very real, is not a viable response. Katniss throughout the book avoids killing where she can, and only does so regretfully, in self-defense. The books are about how violence and vengeance destroys and lowers human life. Far from being a pro-violence or blood-letting message, the books end up being a strong anti-war tract by subverting the honor-warrior-noble-battle trope common in many stories today. Ultimately, the books are about self-sacrifice and the ability of love to overcome the might of totalitarianism, cruelty, and hatred. I do not believe I can recommend them highly enough. 9.3/10, AT Ross

I have no hard and fast rule concerning whether to read a book before seeing the cinematic adaptation, but having seen the trailer for The Hunger Games and deduced the nature of the story being told, I was determined to read the book first.

It’s still a while until the movie hits, but I absolutely loved the book.

Suzanne Collins has written something really special in ‘The Hunger Games’ and I would not hesitate to recommend this to people of almost any age.

The story can be pretty easily determined by watching any of the number of trailers for the movie, but imagine a post-civil war era America who have lost any track of their heritage. 12 districts exist to service the Capitol, and as a result of a long-gone uprising, the Capitol now forces the districts to provide 2 tributes each to compete in a ruthless battle-to-the-death to remind them of their situation.

These are the Hunger Games, and the focus of the whole book (though the book does not necessarily solely take place within the Hunger Games).

The characters are wonderful to read, if maybe a little two-dimensional. But this two-dimensionality only exists so that the characters could be read and understood by readers of any age, but through any lack of talent on the author’s part.

I have heard it said that this series is a little Twilight -ish in terms of the ‘emotions’ and focus on female characters, but I found no evidence of this. In fact, I found Katniss Everdeen’s slow and never realised understanding of her feelings quite evocative of my own time as a teenager.

The world around the story is quite wonderful, and leaves me with an endless number of questions: what aren’t the people being told; who is still alive; what is going to happen next? The sheer brutality of it is very fresh, untold in other books, and especially impressive in this one as it is told in a way that is not gruesome for the sake of gruesome; sexy for the sake of sexy. What happens all seems very natural.

You may see this book on the shelves of a children or teenager’s section of the bookstore and shy away from it. Don’t. You’ll be missing out. Suzanne Collins has managed to replicate the wonderful breadth and width of all-ages storytelling without cutting any of the corners off. The Hunger Games was a simply magnificent read. 9.0/10, Joshua S Hill

Winning will make you famous. Losing means certain death.

This Young Adult book is set in the future long after North America has been demolished, in a nation known as Panem. The nation is separated into twelve districts, which surround the Capitol. It was formerly thirteen until the thirteenth was destroyed by the rulers of this world.  Every year in order for the rulers to flex their might, a boy and girl aged between twelve and eighteen are randomly chosen to represent their district in a reality TV show. However, this show has a twist. The show is to the death and only one winner will survive. This book follows Katniss Everdeen as she steps in to enter this game....

This is a well written and engaging novel which sees the likes of Big Brother and I’m a Celebrity taken to a disturbingly, yet possible conclusion. I have recently become a fan of teenage fiction and this is one of the better reads of this genre. Yes, the story is not unique and has been seen in the films ‘The Running Man’ and ‘The Condemned’ . Although, it is the addition of teenagers, playing the central characters, which gives this book bite. 

We follow the exploits of Kat, a sixteen year old from District Twelve – the poorest of the districts – as she embarks on the journey of her life. Kat is already a hunter and her life to date has already instilled into her a fight to survive attitude, and a steely character.  It is these characteristics which will stand her in good stead in this shocking tale.

The characterisation is stronger in this than other YA books and is more adult in its approach. The pace is fast, always an emotional roller coaster and highly descriptive at the same time, especially in the handling of it’s hunting scenes. Occasionally, it can be too descriptive and sometimes this gets in the way of the plot and prose though not to a detrimental effect.

There were times when I was reminded of ‘Enders Game’ and times when I was reminded of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ . Yes, it does have a love theme running through it. However, this adds to the story and is paramount in driving the characters’ motivations throughout the book.

This is a book which will be enjoyed a lot by teenagers, as well as adults, to which it will have a certain resonance, having witnessed the explosion and possibilities of reality TV this last decade. It is a strange phenomenon in modern culture and hopefully this is not it’s natural conclusion. This book is also followed by two subsequent books, which will be reviewed in the near future.

All in all this is a book worthy of reading, and while it is possible, I guess you will have to suspend your imagination, as I personally cannot envisage a society where parents would allow this to happen. At least I do not want to live in that dystopian society if it does... Enjoy... 9.0/10, Allan Fisher

9/10 A book which will be enjoyed a lot by teenagers, as well as adults.

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Reviews by Allan Fisher and Joshua S Hill and AT Ross

12 positive reader review(s) for The Hunger Games

Suzanne Collins biography

Melina from USA

WOW! This was an awesome book. I couldn't set it down, not even once. The romance of Katniss and Peeta, the friendship of Katniss and Rue, it was just fantastic.

Taneisha from Australia

I first read the series when I was 10 and have decided to reread the series now at 15 and was extremely impressed with the underlying message to readers the book conveyed. The book is page-turning, absorbing, fast-paced, and adventurous whilst also giving readers a warning on how dark society can be. I highly recommend this book, especially for those who love the movie as it (as most book-based movies) was quite misleading and left out some beautiful moments highlighted in the book.

Anon from England

This book is one of a kind.

Eshal from Canada

I found this book really interesting, thrilling and action-packed. The book is page-turning, absorbing, fast-paced, and adventurous, and I often found myself sneaking them under the sheets along with a flashlight. I think that they should have included a bit more about Gale because they never added a scene with him in it. But when I watched the movie it was not at all how I imagined it to be. I think that the book is better that the movie. The book includes all of the details and every thought that every character is thinking. At the part when Haymitch talks in Katniss’s head is really badly filmed in the movies. I love how Katniss is a rebel that does not support the Capitol. This book changed my perspective about life and makes me appreciate that I was not forced to enter the Hunger Games.

Cat Fitzpatrick from UK

I'm very late to the party with this one, with all the fuss around the film adaptation probably putting me off a bit, but I was very pleasantly surprised when I finally picked this up. I literally just sat down and read it straight through - it was gripping and entertaining, and I really liked the concept and main character. It is one of those novels where a very clear image appears in your head whilst you read it, and I'm looking forward to reading the following books, but the pace sometimes dropped a little with a very heavy focus on what Katniss was eating. Obviously it's a survival story and I do like realism in my books, but this can go a bit far and I don't need to know about every bit of cracker she eats. Overall I would definitly recommend this.

Tunaisthebestfishtoeat from UK

I really enjoyed this book and due to the easy flow of action it became a very quick read. For those who have read this, I would like to suggest the book 'Divergent' as it has a similar theme. Trust me,if you enjoyed The Hunger games then you won't be able to put Divergent down. About The Hunger Games, I would suggest you definetely read the book BEFORE you watch the film! Good book 8/10 for original content and well formed characters.

From from UK

I really, really, really did love the books when I read them. They were page-turning, absorbing, fast-paced, and adventurous, and I often found myself sneaking them under the sheets along with a flashlight. However, it was when I looked back on them that I realized they weren't really anything special. The writing was pretty bad, and to be honest the whole first-person present thing made it kind of hard to read. Nevertheless, if you're simply looking for entertainment and nothing to really think over or look deeply into, it would be a lie to tell you its not a great choice.

Stella Mellark from Mexico

I just love the book. It completes my life. In some way I feel like Katniss, she tries to survive and protect her little sister Primrose. Maybe I am obsessed with The Hunger Games, cause, you have to see my room and my school stuffs. Aand i want to say thanks to Suzanne Collins, for writting "The Hunger Games".

Reece from England

I loved this book, I have read the other two books and seen the film four times. It is by far the best book I have ever read.

Bella from Brisbane

As I am only 13 this book came to me through Taylor Swift as she wrote 2 songs for the film. I came across it and started to get into it and after 3 days I could not put the book down. It was just amazing!!! I love it so much that I recently did my English oral on the film. I say, if anyone is into a killer of a book you NEED TO READ THIS!!!!!!

Stefani from Istanbul, Turkey

It was extraoridinary! It was so great I couldn't put it down. It was one of the best books I have ever read and that's saying a lot since I've read tons. It was amazing and it changed my perspective about life. Definitely worth the time!

Katniss from Holland

I love these books. Katniss (I have the same name, seriously) isn't the nicest person in Panem, but how she loves her sister and her friend Gale is fascinating. I love how she never wanted to be a heroine, but she is though.

Ryan from Canberra

This isn't the best written story I have read, Katniss is not a particularly sympathetic / relatable main character, and yet I could not put this book down. The Hunger Games has a way of getting into your head, it is an example of some very clever story telling that explores some very dark themes, and despite not being able to fully connect with the main character, you can still admire her skills and determination.

Gary from Canada

It was a hell of a fun read, though I could not help but feel a little disentangled with some of her dialogue throughout the book. It's either in their world kids are pretty stupid or she doesn't realize how smart they really are. I also found that it was stolen from the Battle Royale comics, which I found to be much more heart rendering and nervousing but nonetheless, her vigorous spirit in writing this tale kept me reading throughout and I rather enjoyed the action.

Fan from South Africa

COULD NOT put it down, nor Catching Fire but Mockingjay lost the plot a bit. I got a bit confused when they actually made it to the Capitol. At any rate, I will be trying Ms. Collins other works as well. GREAT READ!!

Anke from USA

This book took me by surprise. It has a great story and the pace is fast. It is fascinating and truly a page turner. Highly recommended.

9.1 /10 from 17 reviews

All Suzanne Collins Reviews

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• The Hunger Games (Hunger Games: Book 1)
• Catching Fire (Hunger Games: Book 2)
• Mockingjay (Hunger Games: Book 3)
• The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (Hunger Games: Prequel)

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Q. & A.

Suzanne Collins Talks About ‘The Hunger Games,’ the Books and the Movies

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“The Hunger Games,” by Suzanne Collins, came out in 2008. It is the first in a trilogy by the same name that includes “Catching Fire” (2009) and “Mockingjay” (2010). The series has more than 100 million copies in print worldwide, and spent more than 260 consecutive weeks on The Times best-seller list. The books have spawned four record-breaking films and many Katniss Halloween costumes. In a 10th anniversary edition of the book, which hits stores this month, David Levithan, a vice president and publisher at Scholastic Press, interviewed Collins. An excerpt from that interview, including potential spoilers , is below, condensed and edited for clarity and length.

[ Read “Katness Everdeen Is My Hero,” an essay by the writer Sabaa Tahir , commemorating the 10th anniversary of the publication of “The Hunger Games.” ]

David Levithan: Let’s start at the origin moment for “The Hunger Games.” You were flipping channels one night.

Suzanne Collins: Yes, I was flipping through the channels one night between reality television programs and actual footage of the Iraq War, when the idea came to me. At the time, I was completing the fifth book in The Underland Chronicles and my brain was shifting to whatever the next project would be. I had been grappling with another story that just couldn’t get any air under its wings. I knew I wanted to continue to explore writing about just-war theory for young audiences. In The Underland Chronicles, I’d examined the idea of an unjust war developing into a just war because of greed, xenophobia and longstanding hatreds. For the next series, I wanted a completely new world and a different angle into the just-war debate.

DL: Can you tell me what you mean by the “just-war theory” and how that applies to the setup of the trilogy?

SC: Just-war theory has evolved over thousands of years in an attempt to define what circumstances give you the moral right to wage war and what is acceptable behavior within that war and its aftermath. The why and the how. It helps differentiate between what’s considered a necessary and an unnecessary war. In The Hunger Games Trilogy, the districts rebel against their own government because of its corruption. The citizens of the districts have no basic human rights, are treated as slave labor, and are subjected to the Hunger Games annually. I believe the majority of today’s audience would define that as grounds for revolution. They have just cause but the nature of the conflict raises a lot of questions. Do the districts have the authority to wage war? What is their chance of success? How does the re-emergence of District 13 alter the situation? When we enter the story, Panem is a powder keg and Katniss the spark.

DL: A connection you made early on was with mythology, particularly the myth of Theseus. How did that piece come to fit?

SC: I was such a huge Greek mythology geek as a kid, it’s impossible for it not to come into play in my storytelling. The connection to the myth of Theseus happened immediately. As a young prince of Athens, he participated in a lottery that required seven girls and seven boys to be taken to Crete and thrown into a labyrinth to be destroyed by the Minotaur. In one version of the myth, this excessively cruel punishment resulted from the Athenians opposing Crete in a war. Sometimes the labyrinth’s a maze, sometimes it’s an arena. In my teens I read Mary Renault’s “The King Must Die,” in which the tributes end up in the Bull Court. They’re trained to perform with a wild bull for an audience composed of the elite of Crete who bet on the entertainment. Theseus and his team dance and handspring over the bull in what’s called bull-leaping. You can see depictions of this in ancient sculpture and vase paintings. The show ended when they’d either exhausted the bull or one of the team had been killed. After I read that book, I could never go back to thinking of the labyrinth as simply a maze, except perhaps ethically. It will always be an arena to me.

DL: But in this case, you dispensed with the Minotaur. Instead, the arena harkens more to gladiator vs. gladiator than to gladiator vs. bull. What influenced this construction?

SC: A fascination with the gladiator movies of my childhood, particularly Spartacus. Whenever it ran, I’d be glued to the set. My dad would get out Plutarch’s Lives and read me passages from “Life of Crassus,” since Spartacus, being a slave, didn’t rate his own book.

DL: Another key piece of The Hunger Games is the voice and perspective that Katniss brings to it. Some novelists start with a character and then find a story through that character, but with The Hunger Games I believe you had the idea for the story first, and then Katniss stepped into it. Where did she come from?

SC: Katniss appeared almost immediately after I had the idea, standing by the bed with that bow and arrow. I’d spent a lot of time during The Underland Chronicles weighing the attributes of different weapons. I used archers very sparingly because they required light and the Underland has little natural illumination. But a bow and arrow can be handmade, shot from a distance, and weaponized when the story transitions into warfare. She was a born archer. Her name came later, while I was researching survival training and specifically edible plants. In one of my books, I found the arrowhead plant, and the more I read about it, the more it seemed to reflect her. Its Latin name has the same roots as Sagittarius, the archer. The edible tuber roots she could gather, the arrowhead-shaped leaves were her defense, and the little white blossoms kept it in the tradition of flower names, like Rue and Primrose. I looked at the list of alternative names for it. Swamp Potato. Duck Potato. Katniss easily won the day. As to her voice, I hadn’t intended to write in first person. I thought the book would be in the third person like The Underland Chronicles. Then I sat down to work and the first page poured out in first person, like she was saying, “Step aside, this is my story to tell.” So I let her.

DL: I’m curious about Katniss’s family structure.

SC: Her parents have their own histories in District 12 but I only included what’s pertinent to Katniss’s tale. Her father’s hunting skills, musicality and death in the mines. Her mother’s healing talent and vulnerabilities. Her deep love for Prim. Those are the elements that seemed essential to me. I have a world of information about the characters that didn’t make it into the book. With some stories, revealing that could be illuminating, but in the case of The Hunger Games, I think it would only be a distraction unless it was part of a new tale within the world of Panem.

DL: When did Peeta and Gale come into the equation? Did you know from the beginning how their stories would play out vis-à-vis Katniss’s?

SC: Peeta and Gale appeared quickly, less as two points on a love triangle, more as two perspectives in the just-war debate. Gale, because of his experiences and temperament, tends toward violent remedies. Peeta’s natural inclination is toward diplomacy. Katniss isn’t just deciding on a partner; she’s figuring out her worldview.

DL: Why is Peeta a baker?

SC: Bread crops up a lot in The Hunger Games. It’s the main food source in the districts, as it was for many people historically. When Peeta throws a starving Katniss bread in the flashback, he’s keeping her alive long enough to work out a strategy for survival. It seemed in keeping with his character to be a baker, a life giver. But there’s a dark side to bread, too. When Plutarch Heavensbee references it, he’s talking about Panem et Circenses, Bread and Circuses, where food and entertainment lull people into relinquishing their political power. Bread can contribute to life or death in The Hunger Games.

DL: When it comes to larger world building, how much did you know about Panem before you started writing?

SC: I knew there were thirteen districts — that’s a nod to the thirteen colonies — and that they’d each be known for a specific industry. I knew 12 would be coal and most of the others were set, but I had a few blanks that naturally filled in as the story evolved. When I was little we had that board game, Game of the States, where each state was identified by its exports. And even today we associate different locations in the country with a product, with seafood or wine or tech. Of course, it’s a very simplified take on Panem. No district exists entirely by its designated trade. But for purposes of The Hunger Games, it’s another way to divide and define the districts.

DL: Where do you write? Are you a longhand writer or a laptop writer? Do you listen to music as you write, or go for the monastic, writerly silence?

SC: I write best at home in a recliner. I used to write longhand, but now it’s all laptop. Definitely not music; it demands to be listened to. I like quiet, but not silence.

DL: You talked earlier about researching survival training and edible plants for these books. What other research did you have to do?

SC: You know, I’m just not very handy. I read a lot about how to build a bow from scratch, but I doubt I could ever make one. Being good with your hands is a gift. So I do a lot of book research. Sometimes I visit museums or historic sites for inspiration. I was trained in stage combat, particularly sword fighting in drama school; I have a nice collection of swords designed for that, but that was more helpful for The Underland Chronicles. The only time I got to do archery was in gym class in high school.

DL: You cowrote the screenplay for the first Hunger Games movie. I know it’s an enormously tricky thing for an author to adapt their own work. How did you approach it?

SC: I wrote the initial treatments and first draft and then Billy Ray came on for several drafts and then our director, Gary Ross, developed it into his shooting script and we ultimately did a couple of passes together. I did the boil down of the book, which is a lot of cutting things while trying to retain the dramatic structure. I think the hardest thing for me, because I’m not a terribly visual person, was finding the way to translate many words into few images. Billy and Gary, both far more experienced screenwriters and gifted directors as well, really excelled at that. Throughout the franchise I had terrific screenwriters, and Francis Lawrence, who directed the last three films, is an incredible visual storyteller. The most rewarding moment on the movie was the first time I saw it put together, still in rough form, and thinking it worked.

DL: Do you picture your characters as you’re writing them? If so, how close did Jennifer Lawrence come to the Katniss in your head? And now when you think about Katniss, do you see Jennifer or do you still see what you imagined before?

SC: I definitely do picture the characters when I’m writing them. The actress who looks exactly like my book Katniss doesn’t exist. Jennifer looked close enough and felt very right, which is more important. She gives an amazing performance. When I think of the books, I still think of my initial image of Katniss. When I think of the movies, I think of Jen. Those images aren’t at war any more than the books are with the films. Because they’re faithful adaptations, the story becomes the primary thing. Some people will never read a book, but they might see the same story in a movie. When it works well, the two entities support and enrich each other.

DL: All of the actors did such a fantastic job with your characters. Are there any in particular that have stayed with you?

SC: A writer friend of mine once said, “Your cast — they’re like a basket of diamonds.” That’s how I think of them. I feel fortunate to have had such a talented team — directors, producers, screenwriters, performers, designers, editors, marketing, publicity, everybody — to make the journey with. And I’m so grateful for the readers and viewers who invested in “The Hunger Games.” Stories are made to be shared.

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The Hunger Games: book review (A2)

A popular book and exciting new film.

Instructions

Do the preparation exercise first and then read the article.  If you find it too easy, try the next level.  After reading, do the exercises to check your understanding.

Preparation

Introduction.

The Hunger Games is a book by the American author Suzanne Collins. It was published in 2008 and has sold millions of copies. It is the first book for young readers to sell a million electronic books and you can buy it in 26 different languages. The Hunger Games is now a very successful film. It made 152.5 million dollars in its first weekend in North America!

A fight to the death

The story is set in the future, after the destruction of North America. The country is called Panem. There are twelve poor districts governed by the rich Capitol. There was a thirteenth district in the past but the Capitol destroyed them because they rebelled.

The Capitol organises the Hunger Games every year to punish the districts. One boy and one girl aged 12 to 18 fight in a battle. Only one person will live. The chosen teenagers are called “tributes”. The whole country must watch the games on television.

The story is about Katniss Everdeen, a sixteen-year-old girl. Her father died and now she has to kill animals for her family to eat. Her younger sister, Prim, is chosen to be a “tribute”, but Katniss volunteers to go instead. The other “tribute” from District 12 is a boy named Peeta.

Where did the idea for The Hunger Games come from?

One night in 2003, Suzanne Collins was watching TV. It was at the time of the US invasion of Iraq. The only programmes she could find on TV were ‘reality’ programmes of young people competing to win a million dollars and news programmes about the war. Suzanne says that the two things started to mix together in her head and she had the idea for The Hunger Games.

She has always found news programmes of wars upsetting. When she was a child, her father was a pilot in the US Air Force and he fought in Vietnam. It was a very frightening experience for her.

Too much violence?

Some parents in the US have complained about the violence in the book. But Suzanne says she was very worried about how much violence we see on TV nowadays. Suzanne is also worried about the amount of reality TV we watch. “We put too much of our lives on TV,” she says. “And we care less for people because of this.” She said that writing about death and violence in the story was the hardest thing for her to do and she hopes it will make people think about what they watch in future.

Brendan Dunne

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The hunger games, book 1.

• Parents say (239)
• Kids say (1218)

Based on 1218 kid reviews

AMAZING BOOK

This title has:

• Too much violence
• Too much drinking/drugs/smoking

Report this review

I don't understand the negative adult reviews.

• Educational value
• Great messages

SUCH A GREAT BOOK

• Great role models

Great but extremely violent

Really good book, read me first, not a good book, boring and poorly written compared to other dystopian novels, but no violence issues, i love this amazing book.

Plot Summary

The hunger games, by suzanne collins.

'The Hunger Games' is a young adult dystopian novel set in a post-apocalyptic universe where children are pitted against each other in a battle royale to the death.

Article written by Neesha Thunga K

B.A. in English Literature, and M.A. in English Language and Literature.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins follows the story of Katniss Everdeen, a 16-year-old girl who offers herself as a tribute in the annual Hunger Games in the post-apocalyptic world of Panem . Katniss undergoes several trials and tribulations as a part of the Hunger Games, which is a battle royale to the death of children aged between 12 and 18. 

‘Spoiler-free’ The Hunger Games Summary

During the annual “ reaping ” in the post-apocalyptic nation of Panem, one male and one female child aged between 12 and 18 are chosen as tributes for The Hunger Games. In the 74th edition of the Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen , a young self-sufficient 16-year-old girl offers herself as a tribute from District 12 in place of her younger sister, Primrose. Peeta Mellark , a boy who went to school with Katniss is chosen as the male tribute. 

Katniss and Peeta make their way to the Capitol , where the Games are always held. They try to make themselves presentable with the help of various stylists and advisors – to gain sponsors during the Games for food and tools for survival.

During the Games, Katniss and Peeta undergo several chilling trials in their attempt to stay alive. They end up winning the hearts of the public as “star-crossed lovers” (as quoted in The Hunger Games), but the oppressive Capitol is not too happy when they begin rebelling.

The Hunger Games Summary 

Spoiler alert: Important details of the novel are revealed below

The novel begins in a post-apocalyptic nation known as Panem. Panem was formerly North America and has now been divided into the Capitol, a wealthy and autocratic state that exploits 12 districts (that exist in varying degrees of poverty) for their labor and natural resources. Each year, a battle royale to the death in the form of The Hunger Games is held. The Hunger Games were enforced as punishment for a failed rebellion by District 13 , which was obliterated by the Capitol. Thus, every year a boy and a girl between the ages of 12 and 18 are chosen as tributes from each of the oppressed districts to attend the Hunger Games. 

In the 74th edition of the Hunger Games, Katniss’s younger sister, Primrose, is chosen as tribute from District 12 – during the televised event of the reaping . However, Katniss, the 16-year-old heroine of the novel, volunteers herself as a tribute instead. Peeta Mellark, a boy who went to school with Katniss and offered her family bread when they were starving, is named as the male tribute from District 12. 

Katniss and Peeta make their way to the Capitol. During their journey, they are advised by a drunken mentor called Haymitch Abernathy , the only living victor of the Hunger Games from District 12, as well as their chaperone, Effie Trinket to enhance their public perception. This would enable Katniss and Peeta to gain sponsors for life-saving gifts during the Hunger Games. 

A stylist named Cinna designs specialized costumes for both Katniss and Peeta to help them stand out from the rest of the participants. Katniss’ costume, which is based on the theme of fire, earns her the moniker “Girl on Fire” when she is introduced to the public at the Capitol.

Katniss surprisingly earns the highest score during an evaluation by the Gamemakers , while Peeta reveals his long-standing love for her during a televised interview with Caesar Flickerman . Although Katniss is taken aback by this revelation, she accepts that his words made her look desirable. Haymitch proceeds to promote the image of Katniss and Peeta as star-crossed lovers from District 12. 

Katniss develops an amicable relationship with the female tribute from District 11 – a petite 12-year-old girl named Rue . Soon, the Hunger Games begin. It results in a bloodbath right at the beginning, as the tributes fight to grab weapons for their survival. Katniss takes Haymitch’s advice to flee the scene immediately and manages to escape the notice of the other tributes. 

Katniss soon ends up encountering the tributes from Districts 1,2 and 4, also known as the “ career tributes ” i.e., tributes who train throughout their lives to compete in the Games. These tributes are ruthless and one of them almost always emerges as the victor in the Games. Katniss is horrified to find out that Peeta has ganged up with the career tributes, who are bent upon killing Katniss. The Careers move away from Katniss, however, and she remains safe.

Katniss wanders further and further away from the other tributes as she goes in search of water. An artificial fire is created by the Gamemakers to push her closer to the others, and she hides in a tree to escape from the Careers.

During the night, Katniss and Rue (who was hiding in a nearby tree) plot to bring down a nest of “ tracker jackers ,” on the pack of Careers. Tracker jackers are violent insects that have been genetically modified to target those who disturb their nests. They shoot venom into the fear-housing part of the victim’s mind and cause hallucinations. The nest of tracker jackers ends up killing two of the career tributes and drives the rest of them away. Meanwhile, Katniss is stung as well and starts having hallucinations.

Peeta comes back and instead of killing her, he tells her to run away and fends off one of the Careers. He later informs her that he had been trying to protect her. Katniss escapes and passes out in a ditch. She and Rue team up once again to destroy the supplies of the Career tributes, but Rue is fatally wounded by the male tribute from District 11. Katniss kills Rue’s killer in return and keeps Rue company while she lays dying. She pays tribute to Rue by spreading flowers over her body, and District 11 sends her a loaf of bread in gratitude.

Just then, a rule change is announced in the Games. Instead of a single victor, the Gamemakers allow two tributes from the same district to win as a team. Katniss and Peeta thus team up, but Peeta has been severely wounded due to his fight with the Career tribute . 

Katniss pretends to be in love with Peeta to receive gifts from the sponsors. She risks her life to obtain medicine for Peeta. On the way, she encounters a Career tribute who tries to kill her but is killed himself by the male tribute from District 11 named Thresh . Thresh spares Katniss for what she has done for his partner, Rue, and Katniss is able to obtain the medicine and nurse Peeta back to health.

Thresh is killed by the last remaining Career, Cato . Katniss and Peeta are forced to encounter Cato by the Gamemakers, only to find him being chased by mutant wolves. Cato is torn to shreds but is left to die a slow death. Katniss shoots an arrow through his head out of mercy.

Thus, Katniss and Peeta emerge as the last two survivors in the Games. However, in a cruel twist of fate, the Gamemakers announce a rule change once again. They ask Katniss and Peeta to kill each other and provide them with a dramatic finale. Katniss and Peeta, however, decide to rebel against the Capitol and prepare to consume the “ nightlock berries ” – highly poisonous berries – together. Realizing that the duo was going to kill themselves, the Gamemakers hurriedly end the Games and declare both of them as the winners.  

Katniss and Peeta thus return home to a hero’s welcome from District 12. However, Peeta is heartbroken to realize that Katniss merely played the role of a girl in love to gain sympathy from sponsors during the Games. Haymitch also warns Katniss that the Capitol would not stay quiet in the face of her rebellious act. Katniss steels herself for what comes next, even as she struggles with the ramifications of the Games.

Why is The Hunger Games a banned book?

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is not banned per se. However, it has continuously remained controversial ever since its publication. In 2016, it became number 5 on the most challenged books list of the American Library Association for “insensitivity, offensive language, violence, anti-family, anti-ethic and occult/satanic values.”

Is The Hunger Games okay for an 11-year-old?

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is a young adult dystopian novel that has been deemed by Scholastic to be appropriate for children aged between 11 and 13. However, parents are concerned that it might be too violent for young children and that it might be too graphic at times. It is also commonly categorized as a Young Adult novel meant for 12 to 18-year-olds.

Why did Katniss kill herself?

Katniss does not kill herself at the end of the Hunger Games. However, she does attempt to commit suicide as an act of defiance against the Capitol, along with her partner and male tribute from District 12, Peeta Mellark. She does not go through with her suicide, as the Gamemakers allow her to return home along with Peeta.

Who does Katniss actually love?

Before she goes to the Hunger Games, Katniss harbors strong feelings for her long-standing friend, Gale. However, she develops an unbreakable bond with Peeta Mellark during the Hunger Games. She also plays the part of a lover to gain sympathy from the sponsors during the Games. As a result, she emerges with confused feelings at the end of the book.

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About Neesha Thunga K

Neesha, born to a family of avid readers, has devoted several years to teaching English and writing for various organizations, making an impact on the literary community.

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The Hunger Games (Book 1) Paperback – July 3, 2010

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In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games," a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed.

• Book 1 of 3 Hunger Games
• Print length 384 pages
• Language English
• Grade level 7 - 9
• Dimensions 5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches
• Publisher Scholastic Press
• Publication date July 3, 2010
• ISBN-10 9780439023528
• ISBN-13 978-0439023528
• See all details

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• ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0439023521
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scholastic Press; Reprint edition (July 3, 2010)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780439023528
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0439023528
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 10+ years, from customers
• Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 - 9
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.2 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches
• #3 in Teen & Young Adult Science Fiction Action & Adventure
• #5 in Teen & Young Adult Survival Stories
• #6 in Teen & Young Adult Dystopian

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About the author, suzanne collins.

Suzanne Collins has had a successful and prolific career writing for children's television. She has worked on the staffs of several Nickelodeon shows, including the Emmy-nominated hit Clarissa Explains It All and The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo. Collins made her mark in children's literature with the New York Times bestselling five-book series for middle-grade readers The Underland Chronicles, which has received numerous accolades in both the United States and abroad. In the award-winning The Hunger Games trilogy, Collins continues to explore the effects of war and violence on those coming of age. Collins lives with her family in Connecticut.

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RETRO REVIEW: The Hunger Games Satisfies an Appetite for Dystopia but Is Now Stale

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The young adult dystopian sci-fi franchise The Hunger Games was conceived during a time of dark contrasts. While channel-surfing in the mid-2000s, magazine writer-turned-novelist Suzanne Collins saw a game show and war footage. Both featured young people and were juxtaposed in a disturbing manner. Combined with Greek and Roman mythology, particularly the story of Theseus and the Minotaur, The Hunger Games was born and published in 2008.

Collins wrote two more novels, completing the trilogy in 2012 just as the first novel was adapted for the big screen. Directed by Gary Ross and starring Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson, The Hunger Games film was a hit, culminating in a devoted audience and a cultural phenomenon that would last into the end of the 2010s . It jump-started the now-ubiquitous young adult dystopia subgenre. It even influenced an entire genre movement in literature, film and TV, and inspiring slews of copycats.

Despite this impressive legacy and its enduring popularity, has The Hunger Games aged well? Certainly, the trend for dystopian fiction hasn't let up. The enduring popularity of cynical titles with their tortured protagonist and morally gray and equally tormented casts of characters who dwell in near-unlivable worlds speaks to this. However, the movie's individual merits are still up for debate. The Hunger Games fed a growing appetite for destruction and set a template for an entire subgenre and movie movement. While still delicious as classic dystopian fare, some of the movie's key ingredients are well past their expiration date.

The Hunger Games Was a Decent & Well-Made Movie Adaptation

The movie improved aspects of the book with polarizing shaky (cam) delivery, 10 questionable storylines in the hunger games.

Many fans agree some of the storylines in The Hunger Games are extremely questionable.

On a technical level, The Hunger Games is a solid piece of filmmaking. Ross clearly had reverence and respect for the source material, so much that he and his screenwriter, Billy Ray, recruited Collins to co-write. This was a good choice. The premise of The Hunger Games isn't exactly original. It's a similar concept that was explored in Battle Royale a few years prior. Neither was the idea of a televised bloodsport.

However, Collins's uniquely American approach – with the Capitol being an unsubtle send-up of capitalism, political elitism and the average American media audience, sprinkled with the decadence of Ancient Rome – gave it a timely edge , resonant to young audiences. Collins's descriptive and immediate writing translated well into film, although some necessary adaptational changes were made. Some of these actually improved upon the novel by streamlining the story and cast.

The movie has some notable visual drawbacks. The costumes are decent, with District 12's utilitarian clothes conveying the '30s dust bowl sharply contrasting the garishly colorful couture of the Capitol. Not all of it looks convincing, though, as some of the Capitol costumes and interview outfits read as too obvious in their opulence. In some cases, they lacked the luxuriousness or sumptuous implied by the book. Outside the bright costumes of the Capitol, the art direction was too muted and drab. This may have made thematic sense, but it also led to some uninteresting or even unappealing visuals. It's highly possible that The Hunger Games set the widespread trend of pervasive visual darkness and desaturation in film and TV today, or at least played a part in it.

Even upon its release, The Hunger Games was infamous for its shaky cam cinematography, especially during its more intense scenes. Perhaps this was intentional, considering the film depicted violence against minors. The unsteady camera work toned down what could have been more graphic death scenes, especially those that did not benefit from discretionary shots. This direction helped make the onscreen carnage a bit more palatable to younger audiences and their accompanying parents. However, this creative choice was also criciticized for making it difficult to follow what was happening onscreen, and for watering down the movie's darkest moments.

The special effects are a mixed bag. Some effects aged well, such as the elements essential to the gritty and grounded sci-fi setting. The design of Panem, the architecture of the Capitol and its vehicles are impressive. They all gave the movie its distinctive visual identity. The make-up and practical effects are equally commendable, especially during the fights and deaths. Glimmer's (Leven Rambin) face being full of unpleasant purple stings following her horrific death by wasps is a standout. However, the unconvincing and shambling Muttations seen in the climax, among other awkward digital effects, were particularly embarrassing to watch.

The Hunger Games Is a Playground for Its Stunning Star Power

The movie remains delectable thanks to its talented cast, one of the saddest disney movies helped give a hunger games star his big break.

Bridge to Terabithia is one of Disney's most underrated classics, but is also responsible for creating one of The Hunger Games' leading stars.

The biggest reason The Hunger Games endured for as long as it did is its excellent cast. Their strong and nuanced performances, their obvious rapport with each other and the script's excellent characterization gave this film a credibility that few young adult franchises of the time had, or still have. Of all the elements of The Hunger Games, the actors are the freshest and most delicious. Despite the movie's dark themes and story, the actors clearly had fun, and it shows in the gusto of their performances.

The adult cast, comprised of impressive names including Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson and veteran actor Donald Sutherland, give The Hunger Games all the depth worthy of their more Oscar-bait roles. Stanley Tucci's fabulously hammy performance as the smarmy game show host Caesar Flickerman is one of the most iconic of the decade. Despite his little screen time, Liam Henderson cemented himself as an impressive cinematic premise. Even musician Lenny Kravitz showed his acting talents as the sympathetic and grounded Cinna.

Most impressive is that more than half of the major cast comprised of very young actors and stunt artists, ranging from pre-teens to young adults in their early 20s. The imposing Dayo Okenyi as Thresh compels with only a few lines. His presence alone inspired fans. Jaqueline Emerson's silent Foxface similarly fascinates without uttering an audible line. Special note must be made of the Careers, one of the scariest (and most tragic) groups of mean popular kids in fiction . The portrayal of the District 1 and 2 tributes – Jack Quaid, Leven Rambin, Alexander Ludwig and Isabelle Fuhrman as Marvel, Glimmer, Cato and Clove, respectively – is one of the best changes from book to film. These four actors clearly had a ball portraying the deadliest clique since Heathers, right up to their dramatic death scenes.

Isabelle Fuhrman, the eponymous star of The Orphan, already proved she was capable of portraying terrifying villainy. Her casting as the unpredictably violent and cheerfully sadistic Clove was an excellent choice. Despite her diminutive frame, contrasting with the burly girl of the novels, Fuhrman's exuberant display of ferocity and abandon sells Clove as a mad and terrifying villain, even in her short screen time.

The best change was made to Alexander Ludwig's Cato, the leader of the Career bully squad. His transformation from an arrogant killer to a weeping tragic pawn inspired both pity and terror. He notably held his own against Lawrence and Hutcherson, which is no small feat, especially in his final scene where he ranted about his motives. This moment elevated his character leagues above the dumb brute of the books.

Finnick Odair's Final Moments Mirror a Surprising Hunger Games Death

Finnick's end late in The Hunger Games saga parallels a much earlier death. Both have a huge impact on Katniss and her fight against the Capitol.

And finally, it was Amandla Stenberg as Rue, the innocent District 11 girl, whose tragic friendship with Katniss became the franchise's most enduring and powerful moment. The bright-eyed 13-year-old played her role with a charisma beyond her years, to the point where she felt underutilized in comparison to the book. Deleted scenes show the depth and sweetness of her performance, proving that the mark of a good actor is that their screen time never feels like enough.

Most famously, this franchise propelled its leading stars to stardom. Although she had proven her formidable acting chops in prior films, it was in The Hunger Games that Jennifer Lawrence truly hit her stride. Although she doesn't exactly fit the physical description of the live-skinned, emaciated 16-year-old in the book, Lawrence not only perfectly personified Katniss's persona, but took her characterization to even greater and believable heights.

Lawrence's persona arguably codified the contemporary archetype of hard-bitten young female heroes in dark dystopian sci-fi and fantasy that are still used today, albeit without the freshness of Lawrence's portrayal. Lawrence's delivery conveyed Katniss's emotional complexity, brittleness, deep-seated sadness and vulnerability, and her morals . Josh Hutcherson's Peeta is her believable foil. His subtle humor and gentleness come across as earthy, grounded and authentic, as one of the most unlikely heartthrobs of the young adult set.

The Hunger Games Is Both Relevant & Outdated Today

The movie’s social commentary is resonant, but suffers from unsubtle and adolescent edge, the hunger games prequel finally gets a streaming release date.

Lionsgate’s prequel movie The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will soon be available on streaming.

The Hunger Games is a product of its times. The 2010s were marked by an increase in social unrest and authoritarianism worldwide, coinciding with the aftermath of a global recession. It's no coincidence that this era saw the rising popularity of dystopian and post-apocalyptic media. What made The Hunger Games stand out from the crowd -- despite its shallow worldbuilding of trade-based, one-dimensional Districts, a wholly irredeemable Capitol culture, with the rest of the planet unaccounted for -- was its interesting use of the now-maligned love triangle, a talented cast, and its politically-charged premise.

The simplicity of the Districts worked reasonably well for its young target audience in an era of Buzzfeed personality quizzes. For its film portrayals, the actors and writers treated this otherwise bare-bones structure with a modicum of weight and respect. There were also hints of lore for fans to follow, giving the movie's world depth that allowed it to endure better than its contemporaries.

However, even the most delicious concepts have a shelf life, especially those that are tied so tightly to their respective time periods. Although there is still a lingering taste for cynical media in the mainstream, it seems appetites are finally being quenched to satiety – or even to the point of over-fullness. The reductive nature of the Districts now comes across as shallow rather than fascinating. The recent need for a prequel ( The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes ) instead of a sequel is rather telling: without the Hunger Games, Panem isn't interesting.

The Hunger Games Is a Solid & Thrilling Dystopian Tale

The movie aged better as a young adult story, not social commentary, what happens to victors after winning the hunger games.

While The Hunger Games franchise primarily focuses on the game itself, life isn't always kind to the competition's victors either.

The Hunger Games, as a film and franchise, is the victim of its own success. Dystopian fiction, in spite of their appeal, has major pitfalls. Much like with the similarly grim and misanthropic Film Noir genre of the '30s and '40s, dystopian dramas of the 2010s are wedded to their times, even if their themes continue to resonate. There is also the inevitability of audience fatigue that comes when a franchise, or genre, becomes too saturated. This is the case with The Hunger Games, in spite of its solid delivery.

On a technical level, the movie is good. Ross and Ray collaborated very well with Collins to translate her book faithfully and effectively to screen, while adding some improvements in places. Its cast is extraordinary. Their performances gave the film a level of respect and gravity that allowed it to stand on its own merits and outlive its own overused plotline. Perhaps 20 years from now, audiences will look upon the movie with the respect and analysis its filmmakers clearly hoped for. For now, The Hunger Games is a competent but otherwise unremarkable trendsetter whose historical impact is more interesting than its actual story.

Despite the genre and its heavy-handed social commentary having gone stale, The Hunger Games at least delivers adolescent violence and angst with the right amount of respect, empathy and panache. It also helps that it was made by writers, producers, actors and developers who enjoyed bringing this odd and scary world and its inhabitants to life. And for what it is, it quells that particular hunger for young adult dystopia very well, even if it's no longer at the top of the menu.

The Hunger Games is now available to own physically and digitally.

The Hunger Games

Katniss Everdeen voluntarily takes her younger sister's place in the Hunger Games: a televised competition in which two teenagers from each of the twelve Districts of Panem are chosen at random to fight to the death.

• Successful and seamless adaptation
• Solid art direction and world building
• The cast of adult leads and young actors is excellent
• Influential and genre-codifying
• Social commentary is overt and heavy-handed
• Some important characters had their presences reduced
• Shaky camera work is distracting
• Plot and genre are now oversaturated and dated